Flying-cruiser



, N. G. Cox.

. FLYING CRUISER. APPLICATIN F1LED OCT. 18. 1919. RENEWED APR. 1. 1921.

cbmyPatented May 3 1, 1921. 1

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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mom/frs N. G. COX.

FLYING CRUISER. APPLICATION man. ocrl 1a. 1919.

HENEWED APR. 1. 1921.

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Patented May 31, 1921.

/N VE N TOR C?. COX

Wl T/VESSES A TTOHIVEYS u w w M u N-. G. COX. *FLYING CRUISER. APPLICATION FILE-D OCT. 18, l9l9. RENEWED APR. l, 192|.

Patented May 31,19211 4 SHEETSSHEET 3- 244. I-ULHUNAUHU N. G. COX.4

l FLYING CRUISER.

APPLICATION FILED ocT I8y I9I9. IIENEWED APR. I, 1921.

Patented May 31, 1921.

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l /IVVENTOH /V. 6:. COX

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Ano/mns UNITED STATES s si ..1

NATHAN G. COX, F LIVENG-OOD, TERRITORY OF ALASKA.

FLYING-CRUISER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1921.

Original application filed November 19, 1918, Serial No. 263,212. Divided and this application led October 18, 1919, Serial No. 331,672. Renewed April 1, 1921.

To all whom t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, NATHAN Gr. Cox, a

l citizen of the United States, and a resident of Livengood, Territory of Alaska, have invented a new and Improved Flying-Cruiser, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to flying machines, and more particularly such machines as are suitable for use at times as vessels capable of floating in water.

More particularly stated my invention contemplates a vessel suitable for flying in air and for use upon the surface of water, the vessel being adapted for service in warfare and provided with means for enabling it to be controlled regularly in its various capacities and when subject to different uses.

This is a division of my original application filed November 19, 1918, and given Serial Number 263,212.

Among the different objects and purposes of my invention vare the following To provide the device with extensible wings so arranged that the inner surface may be increased or diminished or the wings may be virtually folded and thus rendered inactive for the time being.

To provide improved means whereby the propellers and the rudders may be actuated and controlled by operators sitting or otherwise positioned at a distance therefrom..

To provide special facilities for enabling the vessel to be used in water.

To provide facilities for rendering the Vessel self-supporting when resting upon the ground or placed in a dock for repairs.

To enable various movable parts including wing members to be shifted in position by means of cables, at'the will of the operator.

To improve the efficiency of various parts of the device.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters refer to similar parts in all the views, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my flying cruiser complete and ready for flying in the air;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same;

Fig. 3 is a substantially central vertical section through the hull of the vessel showing various mechanism located therein;

Serial No. 457,705.

Fig. 4 is a substantially horizontal 'section through the hull and is taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the device showing it in the condition represented in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the device showing it as it appears floating in water;

F ig. 7 is a front elevation showing my device as self-supported or resting upon the ground;

F ig. 8 .is fragmentary section showing how the inner members are connected together and are movable relatively to each other.

Fig. 9 is a section showing how the inner members in moving relatively to each other are actuated without undue friction; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section showing how certain shafts are turned for the purpose of operating cables used for shifting the inner members.

The hull of the vessel appears at 11 and carries a deck frame 12. Disposed upon opposite sides of the hull are a pair of wing members 13, which, on account of their close proximity to the hull, I designate as the inner wing members. At 14 are a pair of wing members carried by, and movable relatively to, the inner wing members 13. These wing members 14, because of their freedom to move outwardly from the hull, I designate as the outer wing members.

The wing members 14 are, by means of shafts 15, pivotally connected to the deck frame 12, as may be understood from Fig. 2. For this purpose I provide hinge bearings 16. Connected with the wing members 13 and disposed adjacent the out edges thereof are collapsible floats 17, the same being preferably rubber bags capable of being inflated with air or other light gas. The appearance of these floats when deflated may be observed in Fig. 7, the floats being at 17a. The hull is provided with a pair of observation booths 18, 19 and with a gun turret 20. The gun turret is provided with a gun slot 20a and extending through this slot is a gun 20". The observation booths 18, 19 are provided with hatches 21 of the usual or any desired construction, and are also provided with observation windows 22.

The hull carries a number of triangular supports 24, and journaled in the top of these supports is a revoluble shaft 25. Engaging this shaft and partially wound thereupon are cables 26 which extend outwardly and are connected to the outer ends of the wing members 14. Other cables 27 are connected with the outer ends of the wing members 14, as may be understood from Fig. 7. The hull of the vessel is provided with holes 28 through which the cables 27 are passed, as may be understood from Fig. 1. These holes 28 are rendered water-tight, by sealing or otherwise, when the vessel is used in the water. The cables 27 are secured to and partially wound upon a revoluble shaft 29 as indicated at the bottom of Fig. 3. This shaft extends through bearings 30 with which the hull is provided.

Located within the hull 11 is a Hoor 31 for supporting various parts. Below this floor the shaft 29 is provided with a bevel gear 32 secured rigidly upon it and revoluble with it. Meshing with this bevel gear is another bevel gearing 33, which, with the bevel gear 32 is located within a casing 30. Secured to the bevel gear 33 and extending vertically upward therefrom is a revoluble shaft 34 carrying a worm gear 35. This worm gear engages a worm 36 which is driven by a motor 37 resting upon the iioor 31. This motor is provided with control devices 38 whereby it is regulated, stopped and started, at the will of the operator.

The upper end of the revoluble shaft 34.

extends into a casing 39, shown at the top of Fig. 3. Mounted upon the upper end of the shaft 34 is a bevel gear 40 located within this casing and meshing with anothe bevel gear 41, the latter being rigidly mounted upon the revoluble shaft 25. Through the medium of the bevel gears 40 and 41 a rotary motion is communicated from the vertical shaft 34 to the horizontal shaft 25. Thus, by means of the control devices 38, the motor 37 may be used to furnish power for turning the shaft 25. Two observation seats are shown at 42 and 43 and rest upon platforms 44, 45, the lat-A ter being located some distance above the floor 31. The observation seat 42 is toward the rear cf the vessel and the observation seat 43 is toward the bow or front portion thereof. The elevated platforms 44, 45 are reached by ladders 46, 47 resting upon the floor 31.

Located within the hull 11 are two engines 48, 49 which furnish power for operating various devices, as hereinafter described. Connected with the engine 49 and driven thereby is a sprocket chain 50 by aid whereof power is communicated to a revoluble shaft 51. This shaft is provided with a clutch 52, and connected with this clutch, for the purpose of actuating it, is a rod 53. This rod is connected with a foot lever 54 disposed adjacent the observation seat 42, and in position to be actuated by an operator occupying this seat, as shown at the left of Fig. 3.

The shaft 51 carries a bevel gear 55, as shown more particularly in Fig. 4. This bevel gear meshes with another bevel gear 55a which is carried upon a shaft 56. Another bevel gear 56a is mounted upon this last mentioned shaft and meshes with a bevel gear 57. This bevel gear 57 is carried upon a shaft 59 which extends through a tubular bearing 60 and carries a propeller 61. The tuliular bearing 60 is mounted rigidly upon a rocking cylinder 62, which serves as a casing for the bevel gears 56a and 57. The rocking cylinder 62 is provided with a neck 62a integral with it. The rocking cylinder 62 is located within a stationary casing 63, having the proximate form of a mutilated cylinder, as may be understood from Fig. 3. The neck 62acarries an arm 62b (see Fig. 4) so arranged that when this arm is rocked back or forth, the tubular bearing 60 is shifted to different angles, and the general position of the propeller 61 is thus shifted accordingly. The casing 63 is provided with an arcuate portion 64, having generally the form of an arcuate slot, and through which the tubular bearing 60, together with the revoluble shaft 59, extends. The tubular bearing 60, and parts accompanying the same, simply move, upon the axis of the shaft 56 as a center line, to any angle permitted by the form of the arcuate portion 64, as indicated in Fig. 3.

The engine 48 is connected with a sprocket chain 65 by aid of which power is transmitted to a revoluble shaft 66 located just below the platform 44. The shaft 66 is provided with a clutch 67 and with a bevel gear 66, as may be understood from Fig. 4. Disposed near the shaft 66 is a rocking cylinder 68 somewhat similar to the rocking cylinder 62 above described. Extending radially outward from the rocking cylinder 68 and integral therewith is a tubular bearing- 69. Located within the rocking cylinder 68 is a bevel gear 69a secured rigidly upon the end of a shaft 69", this shaft extending` through the tubular bearing 69, and carrying a propeller 70. Extending through the rocking cylinder 68 is a shaft 71, and mounted upon this shaft is a bevel gear 71, which meshes with the bevel gear 69a. The shaft 71 also carries a bevel gear 79b which is located outside of the rocking cylinder 68 and meshes with a bevel gear 66a carried by the shaft 66. The shaft 69b and tubular bearing 69 may be shifted to different angles, as may be understood from the left of Fig. 3. The outer or rear end of the shaft 69b may thus be caused to drop, say 20", below the normal or horizontal level, or may be raised into Z44- HUUNHU l lb the vertical position, as shown in Fig. 3. This is all done by movements of the rocking cylinder 68.

In order to actuate this cylinder, I provide it with a neck 68b as shown more particularly in Fig. 4. This neck extends outwardly through the neck in the casing 68. Mounted rigidly upon the neck 68b is an arm 72, and pivotally connected with this arm is a thrust rod 73 which extends forwardly and is connedted with a hand lever 74, the latter being in easy reach of the operator sitting upon the seat 42. The operator by actuating this hand lever can thus shift bodily the position of the propeller 70. As above explained, the axial line of the propeller may be shifted from the vertical position to a position 20o below the horizontal position, as may be understood from the left of Fig. 3.

Disposed adjacent the seat 42 is another hand lever 75, and connected with it at its bottom is a thrust rod 76. This thrust rod extends forwardly a considerable distance, as may be understood from Figs. 3 and 4, and at its front end. is connected to the arm 62h, for the purpose of actuating the same. As above explained, when this arm is actuated, the propeller shaft 59 is shifted to different angles, the result being that the propeller 61 is moved bodily into different angular positions. That may be understood from Fig 3.

A motor 77 located within the observation booth 18 is provided with a revoluble shaft 78, and mounted upon the ends of this shaft are two worms 79 which engage two worm gears 80, the latter being mounted rigidly upon the two shafts 15. These shafts, while serving as pivotal members for supporting the wing members 13, are free to turn. Engaging these shafts, and partially Wound thereon, are cables 81 which are endless in form, and each of these cables extends around a pulley 83 of the form shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Each wing member 14 is by eyes 84 connected with the various cables 81.

rlhe parts are so arranged that whe-n the shafts 14 are turned in one direction, the endless cables 81 shift the wing members 14 outward relatively to the wing members 13, and when the shafts 15 are turned in the opposite direction, the wing members 14 are shifted back relatively to the wing members 13. The travel of the wing members 14 relatively to the wing members 13 is suggestive of a telescopic movement.

In order to avoid undue friction in shifting the wing members 14 relatively to the wing members 13, I provide the device shown in Fig. 9. A bracket 85 secured rigidly upon the wing member 14 carries a roller 86, and the wing member 13 carries a guideway 87 having generally the form of an angle-arm. The roller 86 extends in between the wing member 13 and the adjacent portion of the angle-arm 87, in such manner that the wing member 14 may be readily slid relatively to the wing member 13.

Located within the observation booth 18 are a pair of balanced hand levers 88, 89 within reach of the operator sitting upon the seat 42. Connected with the balanced hand lever 89 is a rod 90 which leads to a bell crank lever 92, and connected with the latter is a thrust rod 93 which extends to the engine 49 and is used for enabling the operator to control the engine by merely shifting the balanced hand lever 89.

Connected to the balanced hand lever 88 is a rod 91 which is also connected to the engine 48, and is used for enabling the operator to control the same.

Located within the observation booth 19 are a pair of hand levers 94, 95. A pair of tiller cables 96, 97 are connected with the hand lever 94 and extend rearwardly therefrom to a rudder 98 That may be understood from Fig. 1. This is the so-called horizontal rudder, the purpose of which is to steer the machine vertically. Disposed adjacent this rudder is another rudder 99, the so-called vertical rudder being used in steering the machine to the right or left. Connected with the rudder 99 are 95 two tiller cables 100, 101 which are also connected to the hand lever 95. The operator sitting upon the seat 43 within the observation booth 19, may, by operating the hand levers 94 and 95, actuate the rudders 98 and 99.

The gun turret 20 is provided with rollers 102 which rest upon an annular supporting surface 103, for enabling the O'un turret to be turned. For the purpose of rotating the 105 gun turret, the supporting surface 103 is provided with gear teeth 104, and these are engaged by a gear 105. Connected with. this gear is a shaft 106 and mounted upon this shaft is a crank 107. The operator by 110 actuating this crank can turn the gun turret so as to bring the gun 20" into any desired position relatively to the horizon.

As above described, the operator, by controlling the motor 77, can cause the wing 115 members 14 to be slid out away from the hull 17 until the wing members assume the positions indicated in Figs. 2 and 5. By reversing the direction of rotation of the motor 7 7 the operator can cause the wing mem- 120 bers to be withdrawn or brought back into their positions nearest the hull 11. The rotation of the shaft 25 causes the cables 26 and 88 to be drawn in or let out as the case may be, and the rotation of the shaft 29 125 similarly causes the cables 27 and 89 to be drawn in or let out, as desired. Thus, by causing the rotation of the shafts 25 and 29, the various cables extending to the outer edges of the wing members 13 and 14 may 130 be tightened or loosened at will, or any slack in the cables may be taken up as desired by the operator.

In order to fit the device for floating in the water, as shown in Fig. 6, the floats 17 are inflated with air and thus given the desired buoyancy. For this purpose, the cables 26 and 27 may be removed altogether, owing to the fact that the wing members 14 are now for the time being completely out of action. The cables 89 being tightened a little, and the cables 26 being loosened slightly, the wing members 13 are caused to bend or dip downwardly, as indicated in Fig. 6, so that the floats 17 are brought into the water. I

If the vessel is to be rested on the ground, as shown in Fig. 7, the wing members 13 are dropped still lower, so that their outer or lower edges rest upon the earth as shown. For this purpose, the cables employed are actuated accordingly.

I do not limit myself to the particular construction herein shown and described, and variations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. An aeroplane, comprising a hull, wings projecting from the hull and adapted to support the hull in the air, said wings comprising sections hinged together. and the outer sections of said wings adapted to be moved downwardly and cooperate in supporting the hull in upright position when the aeroplane is at rest.

2. An aeroplane, comprising a hull, wings projecting from the hull and adapted to support the hull in the air, said wings comprising sections hinged together, and the outer sections of said wings adapted to be moved downwardly and cooperate in supporting the hull in upright position when the aeroplane is at rest, and means operatively connected with the wing sections for bearing the length of said wings.

hull adapt- 3. An aeroplane, comprising a ed to float in water or rest on the grofund, wings projecting laterally from the upper portion of the hull and hingedly connected, and means for moving the wings into position for supporting the hull in the air and also for supporting the hull against lateral tilting when` on the ground.

el. A dev'ice.v of the character described, comprising a hull, wings mounted thereupon and each comprising a pair of separate wing members movable relatively to each other for the purpose of enabling the wing to befolded, said wings pivotally connected to the hull and adapted to be pivotally adjusted vertically, and floats connected with said wings and so positioned as to support the same in water when said wings are folded.

NATI-IAN G. COX. 

